The Call of the Void

The Call of the Void- Chapter 19- Hate to Know I'm Responsible

Seamus hesitates, sniffling. “Love, Aleks. I did it out of love. I love you enough to do it. I had to do it. I didn't think you would stay, I didn't think you would-”

“And you thought killing my best friend would make me stay!?”, he jumps up off Kevin, standing in an instant and stalking over to Seamus, hand raising over his head to prepare for a slap.

“I...”, for once Seamus has no way to talk his way out of his actions. Ze hasn't seen him so vulnerable. He falters with the gun, knowing very well he could shoot the man in front of him, but can't even bring the thought to surface to his head. As much as Ze cares about him, he has to hope that Aleks will set Seamus straight. Aleks is just about to hit Seamus square in the face when Seamus says “It was a bout of insanity mixed with jealousy. You can't judge me for that, Aleks. You can't.”

Slowly, Aleks hand lowers to his side, considering Seamus with a dark stare. There's a bout of silence before Aleks breaks it with a single word. “Go.”

“What?”

“I said go.”, Aleks replies, gesturing to the door. “I can't even look at you.”

Ze is absolutely shocked in the doorway. How can Aleks, the guy who nearly killed him for trying to get away from him, let the murderer of his best friend go without a single repercussion? That's just unthinkable. How can-

“Aleks, I don't understand-”

“I'm giving you a free way out of this, Seamus. I suggest you don't question it.”

Seamus looks to his feet, dropping the pistol out of his hand in surrender. “I'm sorry.”, he whimpers out.

“Sorry doesn't bring Eddie back.”, Aleks replies with ice on his tone, “Now I told you to go. You don't want me to change my mind.”

Seamus trembles as he nods. He moves closer to Aleks, arms outstretched for a hug, but Aleks shoves him away with a push to his chest. Aleks shakes his head, a dangerous aura around him. He's a bottle of soda just waiting to explode and he's giving Seamus a way out of the crossfire. Ze thinks Seamus is an idiot for even wasting this much time.

“Can I take Kevin?”, Seamus asks.

“If it get you out of here faster. But I keep Ze.”

Oh fuck. He's stuck with Aleks. That could mean anything. He could be dead as soon as Seamus walks out the door for all he knows.

He watches Seamus offer Kevin a hand. Kevin takes it, allowing himself to be pulled up onto his feet. His nose has stopped bleeding, but the evidence is evident in the everlasting stains on his shirt. Kevin watches Seamus for a cautious moment before Seamus nods once, both of them moving out of the room. Aleks watches over the exchange, like the chaperone at a school field trip making sure the kids don't end up killing themselves. Ze slips out of the doorway, making sure Aleks doesn't see him as Aleks' eyes follow Seamus and Kevin out the door. As they pass Ze, Seamus claps him on the shoulder, exchanging a look of apology with him.